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“ HIGH UP AND FAR AVV'AY FLEW THE EAGLE 


THE ROCK FROG 


BY 

HARRIET A. CHEEVER 

\' 

AUTHOR OF 

“THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF BILLY TRILL” 
“MADAME ANGORA,” “ LORD DOLPHIN,” ETC. 


Ellustratcli bg 

DIANTHA W. HORNE 




BOSTON 


DANA ESTES & COMPANY 

V'K 


PUBLISHERS 


•C 415 

fio 

LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two CoDles Received 

JUN 1 1904 

_^Cooyrl?ht Entry 
tpu/yyjL 

CLASS cx XXo. Na 

copy'b 


Copyright^ I<p 04 

By Dana Estes & Company 
A// rights reserved 



THE ROCK FROG 

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Colonial ^^ress 

Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Slmonds & Co. 
Boston, Mass., U. S. A. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

1. The Rock Fkog 


, 

PAGE 

11 

II. 

Boom - a Room’s Ride 

• 


22 

III. 

The Marsh Frog 

, 


32 

IV. 

The Wounded Air Giant 

, 

• • 

40 

V. 

The Eagle’s Nest . 

. 

• 

50 

VI. 

The Rest of Boom - a - Room’s 

Story . 

61 

VII. 

Rejoicing at the Marsh 

. 

. 

70 

VIII. 

What the Frogs Taught 

THE 

Farmer 

78 

IX. 

The Green Frog 

. 

• 

88 

X. 

The Great Storm . • . 



97 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

‘•High up and far away flew the eagle” 

(-See page 5^) ..... Frontispiece 

“ He saw an enormous frog puffing and 

BLOWING ” 27 

“ A GREAT SQUAD OF FROGS WAS SEEN HOPPING 

ALONG ” 36 

“ Such a paddling and sporting had never 

BEEN SEEN BEFORE 73 
“I HAD CLIMBED TO THE RIM OF THE NEST ” . 92 / 

“There sat the Rock Frog, silent, dignified, ^ 

AND GRAND, — OUTSIDE THE ROCK ” . . 103 








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THE ROCK FROG 


CHAPTEE I. 


THE ROCK FROG 



ER - CIIUE’K sat on the edge of the stream, 


staring straight before him. He looked 
stuffy and wilful, and as if he meant to keep stuffy 
and wilful. Pretty soon he began crying, Won’t 
— won’t ! Won’t — won’t ! ” 

Oh,” thought Ker-Chunk’s mother, so he 
says won’t,’ does he? We will see, we will 


see ! ” 


How this Ker-Chunk was a growing frog, and 
as frogs live chiefly close to the water, or in it, 
he was thinking of plunging into the pond, and 
having a fine time all by himself. 

But Ker-Chunk’s mother had told him to take 


11 


12 


THE ROCK FROG 


Clee-Cleek, his little brother, with him into the 
pond, show him how to snap at tiny things that 
flew lazily by, and so teach him to feed himself. 

Clee-Cleek was a mite of a fellow with a tiny 
little tale, because, when frogs are very young, 
they do sport a little hit of a tail, which they lose as 
they grow larger. And when Ker-Chunk thought 
of taking little stump-tailed Clee-Cleek with him 
into the pond, he decided that he would do no 
such thing, so he said in frog language, Won’t 
— won’t ! Won’t — won’t ! ” Clee-Cleek was only 
a little tadpole.” 

Mrs. Frog had no mind to let one of her cold- 
water boys say I won’t ” to her, so what does 
she do, hut up she catches Ker-Chunk, and bob- 
bing and leaping to the top of a great rock, she 
pushed him into a crevice, or wide crack, in a 
jutting piece of rock just above the main stone 
that had the smiall entrance at the front. From 
this hole, or door, Ker-Chunk could look out on 
the floor of the main rock, as he was just slightly 
above it. 

So there he was, high and dry, wedged in like 
a raisin in a cake, and wriggle and twist, and 
twist and wriggle all he might, Ker-Chunk could 
not get out. 

He set up a terribly loud cry of Coo-shoot ! 


THE ROCK FROG 


13 


Coo-shoot ! ’’ which meant Take me out ! Take 
me ont ! ” 

But no one dared go near him, and so there he 
stayed, and all night long kept up the cry of 

Coo-shoot ! Coo-shoot! Take me out! Take 
me out ! ” But all the big frogs and the little 
frogs passed him by, taking no notice of his angry 
calls. 

The great frogs perched on the edge of the pond, 
and sang a loud chorus. Some little old-men frogs 
boomed, Pat-go-drook ! Pat-go-drook ! Pat-go- 
drook ! ’’ Others sang a famous croak of Brek-ek- 
eks-co-ax-co-ax ! Brek-ek-eks-co-ax-co-ax ! ’’ Others 
shrilled Creek-come creek ! Creek-come-creek ! 
Creek-come-creek ! ” Old-women frogs moaned 
^ ‘ Wo - come - creel ! Wo - come - creel ! Wo - come - 
creel! ’’ Whole troops of little ones cried, ^MVe- 
weel ! We-weel ! We-weel ! ” 

All night long the queer medley went sounding 
around the pond, and all that time Ker-Chunk 
kept calling “ Co-shoot ! Co-shoot ! Take me out ! 
Take m:e out ! ’’ 

At length Ker-Chunk got tired. He folded 
away his clammy legs, let fall his round, spotted 
head, closed his little goggle-eyes, and went to 
sleep. Then the rest forgot him. And the next 


14 


THE BOCK FROG 


day, as he was too weak to cry out, they left him 
in the rock. 

The next day after Ker-Chiink had been pushed 
into the cleft in the rock, he found himself very 
hungry, oh, very hungry indeed ! Had he been 
down by the pond, he could have found bugs and 
little insects in plenty, that with his long, snappy 
tongue he could have whisked into his mouth 
and down his throat in a twinkling. But wedged 
in the rock he had called himself hoarse. 

Hoav, as he noticed how faint he felt after his 
nap, he thrust his head out of his tiny door, and 
sensibly set himself to watching, just watching. 
Pretty soon, a lazy bumble-bee came by, singing 

Bee - zee ! Bee - zee ! and — snap ! Down 
froggy’s throat he went quicker than a wink, and 
without being hurt a bit. Then came a great blue 
fly that went Buz-z-z ! Buz-z-z ! ” and he, too, 
was snapped up in a trice. 

The sunshine was very bright that morning; all 
kinds of small creatures were out and about, and 
over by the great rocks near the water flew the 
insects, and out went Ker-Chunk’s tongue until 
he could not swallow another atom. 

Then, after the day was nearly gone, came 
Madam Frog, his mother, to pull Ker-Chunk out 
from the rock, when, lo ! so swollen was he 


THE ROCK EROG 


15 


witli different kinds of food, that, tng as she might, 
the mother could not get him through the little 
door. 

^N'ow you must know that the skin of a frog 
is full of little glands, which means there are 
small, fleshy spots all over them, looking like 
warts, but they are really tiny cells that are fllled 
with something like thick water. And there are 
several layers of skin on their tough, little bodies. 
They take their food alive; that is, they catch 
such things as worms, insects, and hugs into their 
mouths as they crawl or fly about. And as it 
is said that a full-grown frog has as many as 
forty or flfty little teeth in the upper jaw, they 
can probably kill in an instant what they catch 
in the way of food. 

So Ker-Chunk had squatted inside his tiny 
door, with his head thrust out, catching and swal- 
lowing, and catching and swallowing, until all 
the little glands of his skin were swollen and 
puffy, and his small frog-body was rounded out 
like a hall, and do her best. Mother Frog could 
not draw him through the cleft, nor could he 
squeeze himself through, either. 

So madam, the mother, told Ker-Chunk that 
if he wanted to leave the rock and get down op- 
posite by the pond again, he must do without 


16 


THE BOCK FROO 


food and live on air only, for two or three days, 
as a frog is well able to do. • 

And Ker-Chunk tried and tried, but did not 
try long enough at a time. He would go without 
a single hug or plump, young grasshopper for a 
day or so, then along would come a nice fat Buzz- 
buzz,’’ or a rattling young locust, out would go 
Ker-Chunk’s long, swift tongue, and that would 
be the last of Buzz-buzz and Wizz-wizz. 

So the weeks went by. The sweet spring-time 
when Ker-Chunk was a little-hoy frog rolled away, 
summer came, and it was no longer a small-boy 
frog, but a big, puify fellow with goggly eyes and 
a knowing face, that was fixed so firmly in the 
rock that it was not at all likely now he would 
ever get out again. 

And this was how Ker-Chunk became the Rock 
Frog. 

If you wonder how he could grow so large in 
so small a space, it must he explained that, al- 
though the door, or opening, through which Ker- 
Chunk’s mother pushed him, was very small, yet 
the chamber in which he found himself was of 
some size, and leading out of the first one was 
still another room in the rock, larger than the 
first one. Keither were very large, but even after 
Ker-Chunk grew into a fine, portly frog, he had 


THE ROCK FROG 


17 


plenty of room in which to move about comfort- 
ably. 

Here he dreamed and dreamed, and, looking 
out from his safe retreat, he learned a great many 
things even while quite young. 

A few years went by, during which the Rock 
Frog would thrust his head out of his tiny door 
in pleasant weather, watch what was going on 
over at tlie pond, study the stars at night, and 
so grow wiser and wiser all the time. During 
the winter he would make a brown knot of him- 
self in his inner room, and sleep until the spring 
calls would waken him. 

Then, at the call of Ker-chunk ! Ker-chunk ! ’’ 
from the middle of the rock, other frogs would 
hop and leap up the rocky sides and to the door 
of the rock frog’s cells. Here he would talk to 
them in frog language, give the little froglings 
good advice, and show so much wisdom with the 
older frogs, telling them of strange signs he had 
learned about the earth, the water, the rocks, and 
the sky, that not only little froggies, but big 
croakers would go to him for knowledge or coun- 
sel. 

After awhile, when a question would come up 
that they could not seem to settle among them- 
selves, the cry would arise : Let us go to the 


18 


THE ROCK FROG 


Eock Frog! Let us go to the Eock Frog, he can 
tell us what to do.’’ 

And this was how the frogs themselves came 
to give Ker-Chunk the name of the Eock 
Frog.” 

Then once, a strange bullfrog, a great, bounc- 
ing fellow, with a croak like a bass drum, calling 
Boom-a-Eoom-room-room ! Boom-a-Eoom-room- 
room ! ” came over from some marsh-lands, and, 
fixing himself on the best perch for piping and 
diving, would not let any of the Long Pond frogs 
come near him. 

This made the frogs who had lived all their 
lives on the borders of the pond, or in it, very 
angry. What shall we do ? ” they asked, swell- 
ing with vexation at such haughty, impertinent 
airs. 

Then some of them cried : Let us go to the 
Eock Frog, and see what he will advise! ” 

So off to Ker-Chunk and his rocky home they 
started in long leaps, and told their story, half- 
choking with wrath at thoughts of the proud 
creature that they felt had driven them away. 

The Eock Frog swallowed and swallowed a 
number of times after hearing what they had to 
say, then, as it grew very quiet, he replied : 

There is a very simple way to treat old Mister 


THE ROCK FROG 


19 


Boom-a-Room that will soon bring him to his 
senses.’’ 

Ker-Chnnk winked solemnly, swallowed again, 
then went on : 

A few nights ago, a party of sparrows came 
twittering to the rock; they did not see me, but 
they began quarreling over something. Pretty 
soon I saw that one of their number wanted to 
have more than half the platform of the rock to 
himself, and make the others listen to his chatter- 
ing tongue. And a very cunning thing the rest 
of the sparrows did ! 

After whispering together in bird language, 
away flew' one of them, soon returning with a 
flne, crisp grasshopper in its hill. This it gave 
to the proud, selflsh sparrow. And while my lord 
was feasting on the grasshopper, away flew all the 
other sparrows. 

When Mr. Greedy looked up, there he was 
wdth all the rock to himself, not another sparrow 
in sight. Not a single bird to listen to his voice. 
He muttered and scolded, but his tail feathers 
hung down, and a more shamed, crestfallen looking 
bird you would not wish to see. 

Now, my advice is, don’t go back to the pond, 
let this Boom-a-Room have it all to himself, but 
go, one of you, slyly to the other end of the pond. 


20 


THE ROCK FROG 


and tell the frogs there that if one Mister Booni- 
a-Koom-room-room comes around, with a lond 
voice, wanting all to listen to him, and taking the 
best place he can find, to just hop quietly over to 
the rock and leave him alone in his glory.” 

And that was what the frogs did. Those that 
were already on the rock stayed there, and soon 
another large company of frogs came hopping 
along. But the frog who carried Ker-Chunk’s 
message lingered to see how things would come 
out. 

And, sure enough. When the smart Boom-a- 
Boom looked around and found himself alone, he 
went puffing and blowing to the other end of Long 
Pond, and he had scarcely more than taken the 
best place he could find there and begun booming 
again than he found himself all alone for the 
second time. 

What rude creatures these Lons: Pond frocks 
are ! ” he panted. I never want to visit them 
again ! ” and, full of rage, off he started for his 
own marsh. 

The frog that had lingered heard the spunky 
speech of Boom-a-Boom, and repeated it to the 
great crowd of frogs on and around the rock. They 
laughed in a froggy way, hut the Bock Frog said: 

Always give a frog that wants to swell and 


THE ROCK FROG 


21 


make a great fellow of himself all the" room he 
wants. Give him all the room there is^ and he 
will soon he glad to hop off and think things over 
by himself.’^ 

And so wise were Iver-Chnnk’s words, and so 
well did his plan work, that the frogs began to 
call him Judge Ker-Chnnk. So now yon know 
both how he got his name of the Rock Frog,’’ 
and how he came to be called Judge Ker- 
Chimk.” 


CHAPTEE 11. 

BOOM - A - ROOM^S RIDE 

B ut the Long Pond frogs had not seen the 
last of Boom-a-Eoom. The truth was, he 
was a kind of frog-king at Great Marsh, a place 
where dwelt so many frogs that at nightfall their 
chorus could he heard a long way off. 

And Boom-a-Kooin was a very useful fellow in 
the marsh where he belonged. He had taught 
whole schools of frogs to dive, to catch insects, to 
hide quickly when there was danger, and to curl 
away for the winter when frost began to show 
white across the fields, and to nip the meadow 
grass. 

For did you think the froggies all shrivelled 
up and died when cold weather came ? Oh, by no 
means ! They find places under stones, at roots 
of trees, and largely under the mosses by the ponds, 
where, down rather deep, in strange little hollows, 
22 


BOOM- A. ROOM'S RIDE 


23 


they get half-frozen in, and there they live until 
the softer air begins creeping along the earth and 
the frost disappears. 

Then, as soon as the air gets soft and warm, 
and there is a smell of spring in the air, there 
comes a peeping and a piping all along by the 
watercourses, and the people cry : Oh, the spring 
has come, the spring has come; we hear the frogs 
singing in the damp places, by the puddles and the 
ponds.’’ 

]^ow how old do you suppose Boom-a-Koom 
was? Well, we can’t tell, but he might have been 
a very aged old frog, for it is thought that frogs 
sometimes live a great, great many years. 

]^ow, again, some frogs, like some boys or men, 
could be praised and made a great deal of and 
yet not grow proud and put on silly airs, and 
begin to think that every one must stand aside 
for them. And then, there are boys and men, who 
really know a great deal, who, when they find 
people are beginning to look up to them, grow 
vain, and think too much of themselves, and after 
awhile need a lesson that will put down their self- 
love and foolish pride. 

And it was true that Boom-a-Boom had been 
followed about by other frogs, praised, and looked 
up to, until he found they were making of him 


24 


THE ROCK FROG 


a kind of frog-king, and that Avas a little too 
nincli for him to bear sensibly. 

So the time came Avhen he Avished to air his- 
greatness, and he thought he A\mnld leap and leap 
until he had travelled from his OAvn marsh-lands 
OA^r to Long Pond, find the best place for making 
his deep voice heard, and make the Long Pond 
frogs stand around in Avonder and admiration. 

Oh, hoAv angry he Avas Avlien he found that they 
had all quietly gone and left him. lie sprang 
forAvard in great jumps, booming and groAvling so 
angrily that, Avhen he reached the marsh, out came 
the frogs, big frogs, little frogs, all kinds of frogs, 
to see Avhat had put their king into such a rage. 

And, in frog language, he told Iioav, AAdiile 
he Avas puffing and drumming and booming 
to let them knoAV he Avas around, some of the Long- 
Pond frogs seemed to think he Avas taking up too 
much room and singing too loud, and, Avhen he let 
tliem knoAV he should take all the room he Avanted 
and sing as loudly as he pleased, it greAv so quiet 
lie thought they Avere struck dumb at his manner 
and his Avonderful Amice. Then he Avent on Avith 
bis story: 

But Avhen I looked around, there Avasn’t an- 
other frog to be seen. I thought to myself, ^ Oho, 
they haAm gone to the other end of the pond, the 


BOOM-A-EOOM^S RIDE 


25 


better to hear my wonderful voice, and, perhaps, 
too, they are preparing for me a little feastd 

So over to the other end of the pond I went, 
and, lo ! not a frog to be seen ! Did ever a decent 
frog hear of such manners! They had all, all 
gone, and left me alone with Long Pond. What 
if I did want a wide space to myself? What if 
I did push one or two little ninny frogs aside that 
wanted to come too near a fine fellow like myself ? 
What if 1 was bound to get their respectful at- 
tention ? 

Will I stand such treatment? hTo! I will 
find some of those Long Pond frogs and tell them 
what I think of their rude, miserable behavior 1 
Where can I find some of their chiefs ? Does 
any one know ? ’’ 

I can tell,’’ piped a brisk yomlg frog, where 
they have a judge over there called Judge Ker- 
Chunk. They think he is very wise, and, as he 
lives in a rock that has two chambers in it he 
cannot get out of, he also is called the Pock Frog. 
They go to him about everything they want to 
know, and he can always help and advise them.” 

Then over to this Kock Frog I go at once ! ” 
cried Boom-a-Eoom, and let him know how I 
have been treated.” 


26 


THE ROCK FROG 


Judge Ker-Cliuuk was having a nice nap as it 
was growing dusky the next even, when the marsh - 
king came hopping over toward Long Pond. lie 
was pretty quiet, as frogs generally are while g-ing 
from place to j)lace. But as he was muttering 
in low tones to himself as he hopped, we may learn 
something of his frame of mind by listening to 
his words : 

Yes, I must keep still on the road. Last 
night, in my anger, I boomed all the way home, 
a very dangerous thing to do, because there are 
no friendly ponds at every step into one of which 
I could plunge if a hoy or an air giant came along. 
I could hide under a stone or a broad leaf in an 
instant should I see one of these dangers in time. 
And not a creature of that kind need know I am 
around if I keep my tongue still, while many a 
snap might be made at me if my rich boom was 
heard along the road.’’ 

It was beginning to be noisy down by the pond, 
and Judge Ker-Chunk could not have dozed much 
longer, when right by his door rang out a loud 
call that made him jump. 

Boom - a - room - room - room ! Boom - a - 
room - room - room ! ” 

The voice which called was so harsh and deep 
that the Kock Frog said to himself; 



« HE SAW AN ENORMOUS FROG PUFFING AND BLOWING.” 





BOOM- A - ROOM'S RIDE 


27 


Let me go and attend to the frog that has so 
commanding a voice. It cannot be a Long Ponder, 
for, had I ever heard such a croak before, I should 
surely remember it.’’ 

When Judge Ker-Chunk appeared at the door 
of his rocky house, he saw an enormous frog- 
puffing and blowing and swelling, swallowing and 
muttering, yet scarcely knowing what to say. He 
was thinking how best to address such a fellow, 
when Boom-a-Room, in hoarse tones, began telling 
his own story, and so loud grew his voice that the 
frogs on the banks of Long Pond said to each 
other : 

Oh, it must be that our judge is in danger ! 
What if that great puffy Boom-a-Room has found 
him, and is scolding at him ! He cannot get at 
him, for he could never get through the rock door, 
but we cannot let the creature scold in such a 
fashion. Come, let us go and drive him away.” 

So a large company of frogs started for the rock, 
when, all of a sudden, back they leaped, as if crazy, 
for the edge of the pond. In fact, so fast they 
went that one tumbled over the other in their 
scratching haste to reach the water. A few hid 
under great stones that promised safe shelter, 
others gave surprising leaps toward broad leaves 
that hid them, others plunged at once into the 


28 


TBE ROCK FROG 


water, but kept near the bank, where it was murky 
and could not be seen through. 

In a moment, from the first hint of fright, not 
a frog was to be -seen between Long Pond and the 
great rock. And all the frogs that had been 
perched along the edge of the stream had also, 
disappeared. 

What could have frightened them so ? 

How, when boys, birds, animals, or insects grow 
very angry and begin to talk in loud, spiteful 
voices, they forget everything else, and, even when 
others try to warn them of danger, they will not 
listen. And, as Boom-a-Room was sending his 
loud voice through the evening air, Ker-Chunk 
tried to silence him and make him hold his peace. 

The Rock Prog hopped about, crying out in his 
own tongue: Take care! Take care! Hide, 

hide ! ’’ 

Ah, it was no use. Boom-a-Room would not 
listen, but went hollering on, saying he would pay 
the Long Pond frogs for their sly, rude ways, 
when, all at once, there came a flapping of mighty 
wings, a shadow seemed to darken half the rock, 
a wild swoop, a clutch, and Boom-a-Room was 
gone ! 

Gone far up into the air, held in the talons 
or claws of a great bald eagle. 


BOOM-A-ROOM^S RIDE 


29 


Judge 3{^er-Cliunk trembled all over as he scram- 
bled into bis inner room. I^ow see what comes 
of giving way to anger and passion ! ” he cried. 

I tried my best to raise my voice above his, 
but in vain. The louder I croaked, the deeper 
was his boom, and when in dread and fear I 
hopped about as if gone wild, the angry marsh 
frog only raised his hoarse cry all the louder, 
letting the eagle know all the better exactly where 
to find him. 

Oh, dear! Oh, dear! We frogs grow very 
wise in catching at signs of danger and under- 
standing them. I saw the shadow fiash over the 
water, and feared what it might mean. Boom- 
a-Boom would have seen and known the danger, 
too, had it not been for his great rage. Even 
through his din I noticed that not another frog 
was piping. 

Alas ! he was filling the air with such a noise, 
like the deep drums that the creatures called 
^ men ’ use, that he did not notice the silence, nor 
that every frog in sight a moment before had 
disappeared. I would have saved the fine great 
frog that was in such a tempest of anger if I could, 
but he simply would not let me. 

He may escape. I hope he will. But he is 
almost sure to be borne to some deep nest over the 


30 


THE ROCK FROG 


water and be snapped down the eagle’s throat in 
an instant of time. Yes, I hope he will get away, 
but what a warning to all creatures not to get 
so wild with temper that they will not listen to 
a warning voice, or to notice the signs that every 
bright froggie knows so ^vell.” 

The Rock Frog was quiet a moment, then spoke 
again : 

Yow here am I, shut away from the rest 
of the world and only able to put my head out 
at my door, see across the pond, up in the sky 
a little way, and as far as my eyesight will go 
across the sides of the rock. But, if I am cut .off 
from a great deal I might enjoy, I also am entirely 
safe from many dangers. 

Xo eagle could pull me out of my two cosy 
chambers. Xo boy could put his foot on me. I 
can thrust my head from the door, and, as frogs 
never have to drink, I can draw into my skin all 
the moisture I need. Plenty of insects buzz by 
my door, many come in, often I am brought some 
nice tidbit by kind friends, so I am always well 
fed.” 

Judge Ker-Chunk’s eyes grew more round and 
stuck out a little more tlian usual, as he added : 

Even a frog that is a judge is not wise enough 


BOOM- A - ROOM'S RIDE 


31 


to linderstand some things, yet I do wonder Who 
knows everything, and makes ns safe and well off 
in one way when other comforts fly away, and 
takes care of ns all. Yes, Who can it be ? ” 


CHAPTER III. 


THE MARSH FROG 

J UDGE KER - CHUUK, peeping from his open 
door, saw first one little round head then an- 
other come cautiously out of the water, yet it was 
some time before the boldest frog dared raise 
himself to the edge of the pond. 

But when the water showed no shadow, when 
there was no whirr in the air, and across the way 
the Rock Frog was seen stretching out his head for 
a good look around, they came, slowly at first, 
then in greater numbers, toward the rock. 

Several crept from under stones or hopped from 
under dark leaves, and soon Judge Ker-Chunk had 
a largo company of pipers bobbing in front of his 
chambers, all peeping forth their fear of what 
had happened to the smart man frog from the 
marsh. 

We had no chance to warn him,’’ they cried. 
The air giant came so swiftly it was all we could 
82 


THE MARSH FROG 


33 


do to look out for our own lives and scud for 
safety to the nearest shelter of water, leaf, or 
stone.’’ 

I warned him, or, rather, tried to,” answered 
the Rock Frog, but in his noisy, swelling rage 
he had no ears with which to hear, and now, he, 
perhaps, will never' drum more ! ” 

At that a whole chorus of frogs took up the' 
words : 

ISTever - drum - more ! J^ever - drum - more ! 
Xever-drum-more ! ” 

It was a cry of sorrow, a lament for the foolisli 
frog who had left them in sucli a dreadful hurry. 
A gentleman who was driving out with a lady 
in the cool of the day stopped the horse to listen 
to the queer wail of the frogs. They were not 
afraid of the carriage nor the people, they were 
not the kind of objects that often harmed them, 
and tlie gentleman said to the lady: 

Wliat a strange sound the frogs are making 
to-niglit. It seems solemn, as if they were mourn- 
ing over something. Listen ; wliat a queer note.” 
And louder than before, the cry arose from a 
great bunch of frogs on the rock : 

R^ever - drum - more ! Hever - drum - more ! 
Hever - drum - more ! ” 

Tlie frogs farther in on shore wondered what 


34 


THE ROCK FROG 


had happened, and when the others left the rock 
they came in turn, to he told what the eagle had 
done. Then the whole multitude by the water 
took up the chorus, and all night long there rang 
from, the region of Long Pond the dull croak 
that told all the frogs around of the sad fate of 
poor Boom-a-Room. 

In the meantime the marsh frogs wondered 
what had become of their king. He had been 
expected to lead off in a grand hop, or dance, that 
was to be given the next night, and when he did 
not appear to make any plans there were loud 
calls for the marsh king. 

By noon the frogs grew still more restless, and 
hopped here and there searching for the active, 
knowing fellow that could always help and direct 
them. Then the pert young frog that had told 
Boom-a-Boom about Judge Ker-Chunk croaked 
out: 

Ah, it was yesterday that our king was very 
angry with the frogs at Long Pond. You remem- 
ber his telling that, when he went over there 
expecting to be treated with great respect, every 
froggie went away and left him by himself. Then 
I told him of the judge they have, that lives in 
a rock, and he said he would see him, and make 
a noise about the way in which he had been used.’^ 


THE MARSH FROG 


35 


Let us go and find the marsh king ! ’’ cried 
several voices, at once, and so it was agreed that 
as soon as the sun sunk down behind the hills 
they would form a company and march forth to 
find Boom-a-Room, their king. 

It was growing dark when the frogs on Long 
Pond edge and in the puddles down deep by the 
grassy roadside were beginning to tune their little 
fiddles for the night songs. 

All at once they heard the Rock Frog cry 
loudly : 

Clook - a - clook ! Clook - a - clook ! Clook - 
a - clook ! ’’ 

Row this, it was well known, was the cry that 
the Rock Frog was to send forth when he wanted 
assistance, or that his friends should come to him. 
As long as he sat before his doorway and merely 
croaked : Ker-chunk ! Ker-chunk ! ’’ no special 

notice was taken of it. But as soon as he cried: 

Clook-a-clook ! Clook-a-dook ! Clook-a-clook ! ’’ 
it meant, I want you ! I want you ! ” 

Hark ! ’’ cried one of the frogs, “ the judge 
is calling us,’’ and, as they listened, sure enough, 
they heard plainly the cry which meant, I want 
you ! I want you ! ” 

In a moment the rock was dark with frogs, who 


86 


THE ROCK FROG 


squatted about, some close to the hole or door, to 
see what Judge Ker-Chunk might want or need. 

lie croaked in low, muttering tones: 

Listen : from my high perch here on the rock, 
I hear sounds from afar that are fast coming near. 
Some strange frogs are on their way toward the 
pond. It may be that some of the marsh frogs are 
coming to look for their chief. If that is the case, 
let us be ready.’’ 

Scarcely had the words been spoken when the 
great squad of frogs were seen hopping along in 
orderly fashion from the direction of the marsh, 
and now making straight for the rock. 

What shall you do ? ” asked a big bullfrog of 
Judge Ker-Chunk. 

I shall tell the truth and not get angry,” re- 
plied the judge. 

The marsh frogs had chosen a fine great speckled 
fellow to speak for them, and the Long Ponders 
made way for the Marshers, as they hopped up 
the sides of the rock and asked for Judge Ker- 
Chunk. 

The Marshers were very polite in their speech, 
and, as the Kock Frog told just what had happened 
to their chief, the damp little fellows from the 
marsh had to confess that their leader had made 
a great mistake in getting so angry, and tliat, alas ! 



“ A GREAT SQUAD OF FROGS WAS SEEN HOPPING 

ALONG.” 





THE MABSH FROG 


87 


it was his own fault that he had refused to listen 
to warning words^ and had been so cruelly snapped 
away. 

“ lie was indeed a good king/’ piped one. 

1^0 doubt/’ answered the Kock Frog, kindly. 

And a whole chorus of Long Ponders took up 
tlie cry : 

Ho doubt ! Ho doubt ! Ho doubt ! ” 

lie taught us many useful things/’ said an- 
other. 

Ho doubt!” again answered Judge Ker- 
Chunk. 

And all through the woods rang the loud agree- 
ment from the Long Ponders. 

Ho doubt ! Ho doubt ! Ho doubt ! ” 

The next question was not soon answered. 

How what are we to do ? ” asked the appointed 
speaker from the marsh. We are very forlorn 
at missing our good king from our marshy home. 
We know how little hope there is for any creature 
that is once grabbed in the great talons of our 
worst air giant, the eagle, but once in awhile it 
happens that something escapes him. Yet how 
shall we know ? Or what can we do ? ” 

The frogs from tlie pond and the frogs from the 
marsh looked at each other. They swelled out 


38 


THE BOCK FROG 


their breasts, and swallowed and swallowed, till 
it would seem their throats must have ached. 

Then Judge Ker-Chunk croaked slowly and 
honestly : 

I will do what I should want your king to 
do for me had I been the one clutched up by the 
air giant. If in any way I can help him, I will. 
1 think all the Long Pond frogs will do the same. 
If we can, we will help to get Boom-a-Room 
home.” 

As the Bock Frog looked around to see what 
the Long Ponders would say, they broke into a 
roaring echo : 

Get Boom-a-Room home ! Get Boom-a-Room 
home ! Get Boom-a-Room home ! ” 

The Marshers nodded their thanks, for they 
could not make their croakings heard, so mighty 
was the boom of the Long Ponders. Off they 
hopped, seeming a little more cheerful than when 
they came. And the same gentleman Avho had been 
out driving the evening before, happening to again 
pass by with his lady, said, with a laugh : 

I do believe the frogs in this region are trying 
to get some poor fellow, or some wilful, or some 
unfortunate fellow home. Only hear what a 
strange cry they are sending forth.” 

He stopped the horse again, and the lady 


TUE MARSH FROG 


39 


laughed, too, as from pond edge, mud-puddle, and 
rock came the solemn croak: 

Get Boom-a-Room home ! Get Boom-a-Room 
home ! Get Boom-a-Room home ! ’’ 

Poor little fellows ! ’’ exclaimed the lady, I 
do hope they will get Mister Boom-a-Room home.” 

As it is the habit of the frog to keep up through 
the night any cry he starts in the evening, all the 
long hours while the moon was climbing higher 
and higher in the sky, and while the stars were 
twinkling and blinking in the deep blue overhead, 
casting bright gleams along the pond, the frogs 
cried out their promise over and over to try to 
get Boom,-a-Room home again. 

Then when the moon went down, the stars grew 
pale, and up gleamed the great, glorious sun, the 
frogs grew silent, and sank to rest. 


CHAPTER IV. 


THE WOUNDED AIR GIANT 

A ll was quiet along the pond and meadows, 
so far as the frogs were concerned, until 
after the noon hour; then just a few froggies, soon 
followed by others, peeped with round eyes from 
soft mud beds, clumps of moist moss, and damp 
masses of leaves. 

They kept very still as the twittering notes of 
the birds seemed to change to chirps of fear, and 
there was a strange commotion and a great scurry- 
ing in the trees far over their heads. They knew 
nothing of what it meant, until all at once there 
was a whizzing sound, a whirr, a fall, and, oh, 
dear! dear! Flip, flop came a great air giant, 
settling with a crash directly on the rock, and 
close before the door of Judge Ker-Chunk’s cham- 
bers. 

Xot a frog moved except to tremble like a leaf. 
They would not even hop to cover, until the 

40 


THE WOUNDED AIR GIANT 


41 


creature moved again. After a time, one whis- 
pered, in the lowest of croaks: 

Let us be thankful it cannot get at our Rock 
Frog.” 

It lies so still,” came in another whispered 
croak, perhaps it could harm none of us.” 

Still,” piped softly a third, can^t you hear 
the queer sound it is keeping up ? Ihn sure I 
wouldn’t go near it for the world.” 

Oh, nor I ! Ror I ! ” cried many a soft frog 
voice. 

An hour passed away. The frogs kept watching 
anxiously, wondering what the Rock Frog would 
do. Suddenly they were amazed at hearing the 
loud cry: 

Clook-a-clook ! Clook-a-clook ! ” 

Oh ! Oh ! ” they exclaimed, Judge Ker- 
Chunk is calling us to him. What can he be 
thinking of! Does he suppose we will go near 
that air giant, that would snap us up quicker than 
a flash ? ” 

And do you suppose,” asked Father Hind 
Legs, an old frog who often gave good advice to 
younger ones, that our Rock Frog would put 
any of our lives in danger ? ” 

Clook-arclook ! Clook-a-clook I ” came from 
the rock, more loudly than before. 


42 


THE ROCK FROG 


I go to see what is wanted/’ said Father Hind 
Legs. Follow me who choose.” 

As he hopped away, several of the older, larger 
frogs joined him. The air giant lay perfectly still 
as they leaped to the rock, yet wide open were 
his shining dark eyes, and, what was more, he 
was blinking steadily. The frogs kept close to- 
gether and stopped short at the top of tlie rock. 
Snch a terrible enemy to draw near to ! But J iidge 
Ker-Chunk called out, cheerily: 

Do not be afraid. The hawk cannot move 
until we do something for his bruised wing.” 

We ! ” croaked the frogs, in surprised echo. 

Yes, we! '' answered the Bock Frog. I have 
made our great enemy, the hawk, understand me. 
He has a wing severely wounded, and, until he is 
helped and the wing has healed, he cannot fly or 
even flop, he is so weak. Yet I think that, with 
care, he can soon be in the air again. 

We have talked long together, for I would 
not call you until it was plain I could do so with 
safety. Bow the hawk promises to be our friend 
and to serve us, if we will serve him. Animals 
are very true to each other when once they promise 
friendship, I find. 

The hawk thinks he might be able to find 
Boom-a-Koom, were he determined to. He tells 


THE WOUNDED AIR GIANT 


43 


me lie has an idea that he knows the very eagle 
that snatched him up, and that he knows where 
his nest is well. Night before last he met an 
eagle with something held in its talons. It is a 
monster fellow, that enjoys getting together a num- 
ber of different creatures and keeping them in his 
nest to amuse himself with. 

Then, once in awhile, he has a great party, 
calls his friends together from far and near, shows 
the creatures that he has captured, and capers and 
revels the whole night long. And, although a 
hawk does not usually fly as high as an eagle, yet 
this one promises on his honor that, if we will but 
help him now, he will not only never harm a 
Long Pond frog, hut he will do his best to find 
Boom-a-Koom, and will, if possible, bring him to 
me, on this my rock.” 

Yet the frogs hung hack. The eagle,” they 
said, has ever been our greatest enemy, and, 
next to him, the one most dreaded has been the 
hawk. How can we feel sure that he will do us 
no harm ? ” 

My children,” said the Pock Frog, there are 
times when we must learn to trust each other. I 
have twice fed the hawk as he lay close to my 
den. First, a fat grasshopper landed on the sill 
of my door, which I snapped up and tossed into 


44 


THE ROCK FROG 


his bill. Then a locust droned along. I caught 
him, too, stretching out my head to blow it into 
the beak of the hawk. Both times he could have 
snapped at me had he tried, but I was not afraid 
to trust him. 

Will you not help a creature that is in dis- 
tress ? Cannot you believe that promises made in 
hours of trouble will be kept ? See, I am not 
afraid to put my head close to the beak of the 
hawk.” 

The Bock Brog thrust his head and neck far 
out from the door, where in very truth the hawk 
could have grabbed him had he chosen. Seeing 
Ker-Chunk’s trust and courage. Father Hind Legs 
hopped bravely up, followed as before by several 
mates, and, carefully pushing the hurt wing to one 
side, saw that something must be done at once, if 
it was ever to heal. The Bock Frog told them 
what to do. 

First, they spread wide the helpless wing that 
the cooling air might reach and soothe it. Even 
that seemed to give relief. They next hopped 
over to the pond, and, taking the widest strips 
of grass they could find, pawed them into the soft 
mud, then, taking the ends in their mouths, 
hurried back to the rock, where Father Hind Legs 
laid them one by one on the sore spot. This must 


THE WOUNDED AIR GIANT 


45 


have been painful, but the hawk seemed to know 
that it would also be healing. 

Animals, birds, and insects often show a great 
deal of pluck when suffering, and the hawk ap- 
peared to understand that the frogs were only 
friendly and kind in placing the cool, sticky grass 
on its wounded witjg. 

Very helpless the air giant was indeed. It could 
not stir with that drooping, painful wing, even 
to snap at grasshoppers, spiders, or the great blue 
flies that went buzzing by. But, strange as it 
may seem, the Long Pond frogs kept the wild 
bird alive. After once treating the wing they 
let it alone. Their instincts, which answers with 
creatures of the air, the field, and the water, for a 
mind, told them that I^ature, kind Hatnre, the 
ablest, most willing nurse in the world, would 
do the rest, after the healing mud and cooling air 
had done their work. 

It took a great deal to feed the air giant. Whole 
families of grasshoppers, locusts, and beetles 
would disappear down its throat, and still it 
would be ready for more. But the frogs found it 
so strange a thing to go near what usually was 
such a terror, that it became a kind of charm to 
keep hopping up and dropping food into the great 
beak. 


46 


THE BOCK FROG 


At night the deAv moistened its tongue, hut it 
drank in eagerly the drops it could catch during 
a shoAver. 

One day, when the frogs went to feed it, the 
air giant was standing on its claws instead of 
lying on one side. But so Avell acquainted and 
fearless had they become that they hopped cheerily 
alongside. All at once the haAvk caught a great 
buzzing bottlefly in its beak. This shoAved it could 
noAV feed itself. Then it also dipped its bill into 
a holloAv in the rock, drinking a fcAv drops of 
Avater from it. 

I think,’’ said Judge Ker-Chunk, that our 
friend Avill soon he able to fly. He has flapped his 
Aving sloAvly up and doAAui, as if to try it, and, 
although it is pretty stiff yet, it certainly must he 
healed.” 

For a day or two more the frogs hopped around 
and about the haAvk, shoAAung they Avere not in the 
least afraid of him, and Avondering Avhat the marsh 
frogs AATould think, should they see such an amaz- 
ing sight as a lot of frogs going right up to an air 
giant. 

Then one morning, when they leaped to the 
rock, the giant was gone. 

He went at midnight,” said Judge Ker- 
Chunk, hut spread his wings so carefully you 


THE WOUNHEH AIR GIANT 


47 


could not have heard him. He went first only 
across to the lowest limb of a tree. There he 
rested some time. Then he went across to another 
tree a little higher up. There he rested a long 
time. Then very slowly he soared away again, 
and that time beyond my sight. 

But just before he went/’ continued the Bock 
Frog, ^Hie did something that would have fright- 
ened you almost to death had you seen it. I was 
scared for a moment, but very quickly I knew 
what he was about. He took my head in his beak,- 
and pulled, and pulled, and pulled ! Yet it was 
done in so gentle a way as not to hurt at all. 

In his husky croak he made me to under- 
stand he had hoped to he able to pull me from the 
rock. Yet he was afraid that, if he asked per- 
mission, I would be alarmed, and say, ^ FTo, oh, 
no, I cannot let you try.’ So he set to work with- 
out my leave, knowing he would not hurt me. 
He said I had spoken a good word for him, and 
set an example of trusting him, and you all had 
been so kind, he wanted, if possible, to set me 
free.” 

The Bock Frog grew silent, and it was quiet 
all around until he added, in a low voice : The 
air giant said it was certain that I never could 
he pulled from my rocky home.” 


48 


THE bock frog 


It was quiet again, until a smart young spotted 
froggie asked: 

Would you care to get out of the rock if you 
could ? It is a very safe place, and we all come 
to see you.’’ 

The frogs listened to hear what reply the judge 
would make. 

Ah,” he said, freedom is sweet ! Had any 
of you ever been shut up as I have, even in ever 
so safe a place, for just a few months or weeks, 
you never would ask that question, or wonder 
what would be my reply. Freedom is sweet! It 
is the sweetest thing in the world that I know of. 
It is good to be safe. Biit I would rather risk 
many dangers than never be able to hop about 
except from one little space to another. It is a 
great thing that I can look across to the pond, and 
up to a piece of the sky, but what are those little 
peeps to being out in the wide, wide meadows, 
tuning my fiddle by the pond, plunging into the 
cool, delightful water, seeing all the sights, and 
hearing the sounds that como from all around ? 
Freedom is a great, great word.” 

How thankful poor old Boom-a-Room will be 
if ever he gets his freedom again,” said Father 
Hind Legs. 

“ I hope,” said Judge Ker-Chunk, it will be a 


THE WOUNDED AIR GIANT 


49 


great and good thing, both for the Long Ponders 
and the Marshers, if he does. I fear there has 
always been a bad feeling between the two. Now, 
should the one they call the king of the marsh 
frogs be set free and restored to them through the 
wish of the Long Pond frogs, it should surely be 
the beginning of great friendliness and peace 
between the tribes. For that reason, as well as for 
Boom-a-Koom’s sake, I greatly hope he will be 
found and rescued.’’ 

So do I,” said Father Hind Legs. 

So do we all ! ” piped a whole army of frogs. 

And the region of Long Pond sounded all night 
to an unbroken chorus of: 

Do-we-all-all-all ! Do-we-all-all-all ! Do-we- 
all-all-aU!” 


CIIAPTEK V. 


THE eaglet's nest 

A FEW days and nights passed, and no sign 
was seen of the air giant that the Long 
Pong frogs had cared for. 

You must be prudent/’ advised Judge Ker- 
Chunk. Other air giants are likely to he wing- 
ing along the sky beside the one _ that vowed to 
keep the peace with us.” 

Toward evening of the second day after the 
hawk had flown away, the cry rang out again: 

Clook-a-clook ! Clook-a-ciook ! ” 

Very soon the frogs were crowding all along the 
top and sides of the rock before Judge Ker- 
Cliunk’s door. I hear a squad of frogs coming 
again,” said the Rock Frog, and from toward 
the marsh. Shall we tell them about the air giant, 
and what he promised as to their king? ” 

It was agreed that it would he quite the thing 

to let the Marshers know that the Long Ponders 

50 


THE EAGLE'S NEST 


51 


had been friendly in trying to get help for Boom- 
a-Room. And the marsh frogs at once grew 
friendly themselves on hearing it, and declared 
there should be no more trouble or jealousies be- 
tween the two tribes, even if Boom-a-Boom did not 
return to them. Then they scrambled away as if 
feeling still more hopeful than after their first 
visit, and their croakings took on a more cheerful 
soiind. 

The next night, at midnight, when a frog chorus 
was in full blast, a great shadow darkened the 
pond, wide wings flapped, and every frog dis- 
appeared, the usual fright coming back as long 
as they did not know what dread bird it might he 
that was clouding the moonlight. But in another 
instant came the well-known call : 

Clook - a - clook ! Clock - a - clock ! Clook- 
a-clook ! ’’ 

And there on the rock was an air giant that 
surely must be their friend. But they need not 
have been afraid, for the hawk remained only a 
moment, then soared away, up, up, into the blue 
heavens, far and far away. 

As Father Hind Legs, who could take surprising 
leaps, reached the top of the rock,, his little round 
eyes saw at once that the king of the Marshers, 
Boom-a-Room, was squatting directly in front of 


52 


THE BOCK FROG 


Judge Ker-Cli link’s door, his throat pumping, his 
eyes staring, his breast heaving, and his whole ap- 
pearance saying: 

Here I am again. Oh, what luck ! ” 

Yet it took but a glance to see that the marsh 
king was too choked up to speak. He cast glances 
around that were full of fright, and seemed beg- 
ging for protection and kindness. And come to 
find oiit, he did not know at all how it was that 
he came to find himself back at the Rock Frog’s 
door. 

So it had to be explained. The long story had 
to be told, how the marsh frogs called to find out 
if possible what had become of their king, how the 
air giant, the hawk, had been hurt, and what it 
had promised. 

Yow you must tell us all about your strange 
and dangerous trip,” said the Rock Frog. We 
know you must want to get back to your own tribe, 
but we must hear what you have seen during 
the week that has gone, since we saw you carried 
away. I tried to warn you of your danger, I did 
indeed, but alas! your voice boomed so loud and 
deep I could not make you hear.” 

I will surely tell the strange, exciting story 
of what I have seen and heard since the moment 
I was seized and carried away,” said Boom-a- 


THE EAGLETS NEST 


Room, “ but let me begin at the beginning so you 
will understand all about it.’^ 

He waited a few moments while a multitude 
of frogs piled themselves all over the rock, on top, 
at the sides, everywhere within sound of his voice. 
In fact, so many of them were there, that the 
ground for some distance beyond the rock was 
dark with little squatting figures. But Boom-a- 
Boom, although feeling rather weak, said he would 
speak loudly enough for them all to hear. 

As it grew quiet, the marsh frog, who was 
perched close beside the Bock Frog, began his 
story : 

I do indeed want to see the good little men, 
the fat little men, the kind little men, the smart 
little men of the marsh frogs. Bnt it is through the 
kindness and thoughtfulness and forgiveness of 
the Bock Frog and the Long Ponders that I am 
here to-night, and you shall be the first to hear 
my story. 

And first, I knew on the instant what had 
befallen mei, when I felt the talons of the eagle 
closing over my body. I had talked too loud, had 
croaked down every one else, and not being able to 
see or Fear any danger signs, had been swooped 
upon by an air giant, and the worst one of all, the 
eagle. 


54 


THE ROCK FROG 


perhaps, you think it was very painful 
being carried in claws high into the air. [N^ot at 
all. I was held in what formed a comfortable 
hollow, as high up and far away flew the eagle. In 
fact, I was in a kind of cage, one I could not get 
out of, but could peep through, and full of fear 
as I was, if was a very alluring thing to look down, 
down, down, upon sights I had never dreamed of 
before. 

I saw the tops of buildings, could see the great 
things we often hear, and that men call ^ bells ^ 
hanging in the steeples, and after a few minutes 
that seemed like hours to me, we were over the tops 
of trees, and I could see the little birds safe in 
their nests. 

Oh, I wished I were a leaf, a twig, anything 
that was not alive and could not feel. But up, up 
we went until the air for me was so thin I opened 
my mouth to breathe the easier, and then we were 
over the water, and there, on a little point of rock 
that hung over the deep blue sea, w^as a great nest, 
into one corner of which I was dropped and left 
to myself. 

In a moment I saw that another great frog, 
quite as large as I am, was in an opposite corner 
of the nest, but it was of a different kind and very 
green, with large, warty blotches all over it. Then 


THE EAGLETS NEST 


65 


again, there was a good-sized, handsome lizard 
with bright-colored spots all over its back. I 
thought it was pretending to he dead, it kept so 
still, hut I had not seen then what a trap it was in. 

ISText, my eye lighted on a baby duckling 
huddled in a far corner, looking so lonesome and 
homesick I really pitied it. And as for the bril- 
liantly spotted lizard, I found it was under a net- 
work of roots and twine so skilfully crossed, 
recrossed and fastened do^vn, that escape was 
impossible. 

The eagle had floAvn away directly after 
dropping me, as if quite sure that getting away 
Avas something out of the question. I began to 
examine the nest. It Avas a great place, looking 
to me as large as a room. It Avas so deep that I 
could see nothing from it but the sky above my 
head. 

The nest Avas made almost entirely of sticks 
curiously plaited and braided, and small spaces 
tilled in here and there Avith smaller sticks, and 
all made fast to the ledge with other sticks. The 
inside Avas tine! Lined first with roots having 
fibres that made a kind of lace-work, catching and 
holding in place the moss and grasses that made 
a soft and pleasant carpet on Avhich to sit or lie. 

There were funny little bunchy places on 


56 


THE ROCK FROG 


which one could perch, and the sides were filled 
in with sticks and twigs much like the door. I 
at one© felt a strong desire to catch my claws in the 
crevices at the sides, get to the top of the nest and 
take a look around. If there was any way of 
escape I meant to make a bold snap at it. 

I thought the green, blotchy fellow opposite 
had followed my eyes and knew my thoughts, for 
I declare he grinned, yes, grinned ! Stretched his 
split of a mouth and seemed to say : 

^ Let’s see you try it ! Come now, try it, do ! ’ 

My next thought was, that no matter how 
vexed or provoked I might feel, I would not show 
temper or give way to anger again. Llad not a 
fit of passion brought me to that prison ? And if 
ever I wanted or hoped to get away, must I not 
make friends instead of enemies of my fellow 
prisoners, especially one of my own kind ? 

So instead of swelling and swallowing, and 
puffing and blowing, I hoj)ped over to the great 
green fellow, who really was fine enough looking, 
and said: 

^ It appears we are in a bad fix.’ 

^ Very bad indeed,’ he replied, with a leer. 

^ ]^o chance of getting away, I suppose,’ said I. 

^ Do you see any ? ’ he asked. 

^ Ko,’ I said, pleasantly but firmly, ^ yet I am 


THE EAGLE'S NEST 


67 


going to do my best to scratch up the sides of this 
nest, look around for myself and see what I think 
of the prospect.’ 

‘ I would/ said the green frog, ^ I’ve done it 
several times, hut I haven’t taken my flight yet.’ 

I turned without another word and began the 
hard task of climbing, and the poor little duck, 
seeing me start, set up a sharp little squawk that 
seemed to say, ^ Take me too ! Take me too ! ’ 

In a moment I heard the other frog coming 
after me. Seeing I was bound to keep good- 
natured, he inclined toward helping me somewhat. 
‘ Stick the Angers of your forelegs in the little 
openings,’ he said, ^ that will aid you.’ 

I took his advice, and after a long, tiresome 
scramble gained the top of the nest. The green 
frog was soon beside me. The nest was thick as 
well as deep, and had a wide rim all around the 
top that gave ample room on which to squat com- 
fortably as we looked around uncomfortably, and 
croaked disconsolately. 

Water! Only water far below, except for 
jagged rocks with picket-like points that might 
pin a frog through if he struck on one, while leap- 
ing beyond them into the stream would be next 
to impossible. The moon was shining brightly, 
and far as the keen little eye of a frog could see, 


58 


THE ROCK FROG 


only water and rocky shores were before us. At 
one side was deep, deep, drowning water. 

Yet for all the danger I could not help admir- 
ing the splendid outlook. I had never seen any- 
thing half so grand before. The moon made a 
glittering path across the great sea. Kocks rose 
here and there, and if land lay beyond them, it 
was hidden from our sight. 

^ How deep do you suppose the water is under 
us ? ’ I asked the green frog. 

‘ I cannot tell,’ he replied, ^ but it must be very 
deep, and we could not fling ourselves beyond these 
rocks, no matter how hard we tried; besides, you 
can see for yourself that the current at this point 
is swift and strong : a frog could not swim against 
it even where the water could be reached.’ 

“ ^ Have you been here long ? ’ I asked. 

‘ More than a week,’ he replied. 

^ And are still alive ? ’ 

^ Yes ; I do not think the eagle catches us only 
for food. He and his mate seem to enjoy having 
strange company about them. And every little 
while they have a party of eagles in the nest, when 
the eagle prods and pokes us to make us dance and 
croak. The lizard turns all sorts of colors in the 
moonlight, and he pushes him until he crawls 


THE EAGLE'S NEST 


59 


about under his netting in pretty lively fashion, 
so showing his fine spots/ 

^ Then the eagle has a mate ? ’ 

^ Oh, dear, yes, and a very fond couple they 
are too. I think they are both very old and have 
lived together a great many years. They say they 
do.^ 

I began to see that the green frog was quite 
a knowing fellow, and so went on asking questions. 

“ ^ How old may the eagle be ? ’ 

^ I don’t know, but it is told that they do live 
to be over a hundred years old. And a pair of 
eagles will live together till one or the other of 
them dies.’ 

^ Have they had many feasts since you were 
here ? ’ 

^ Two, and I think they will have another 
soon.’ 

^ What do they feast upon chiefly ? ’ 

^ Tish. They are very fond of fish, and at 
this season catch a great many plump, fine ones. 
Perhaps you know that hawks from a high perch 
can see quite a distance under water. I have an 
idea that eagles can do the same. This enables 
them to sight a fish that is sporting under the sur- 
face of the sea, imagining itself perfectly safe. 
But down swoops the air giant, then out of sight 


60 


THE ROCK FROG 


he plunges under the wave, and up he comes, a 
wriggling fish in his beak.’ 

^ Sea-gulls are also a treat, and even a tiny 
pig will soinietimes be borne squealing into the 
nest.’ 

^ Where is his mate now ? ’ I asked. 

^ She has been gone since early morning, visit- 
ing, 1 think. As I said, I think a feast is coming 
before long, and she is off perhaps inviting the 
guests. Ha, here .he comes ! ’ 

And stopping never an instant, head over 
heels we went down into the nest, landing on our 
backs, and were quietly squatting in our opposite 
corners when the eagle fluttered home.” 


CHAPTER VI. 


THE REST Ot’ BOOM - A - EOOm’s STORY 

HE bald eagle was a splendid fellow come 



-L to get a good look at him. As people 
measure, he was more than a yard long from his 
crown to the tip of his tail. . They call him bald, 
or bare-headed, because his head is white, cov- 
ered with white feathers, which gives him a bald 
appearance ; his neck and tail feathers are also 
white, the rest of him I should say was a purplish 


black. 


Ah, but he was the hardy, fearless bird ! He 
would look up at the sun without blinking, and 
would soar up, up, up, so high that he would look 
like a mere speck in the sky. The flapping of his 
wide, strong wings could be heard from a dis- 
tance. Dear me, and dear me ! how dreadfully 
angry I must have been not to have heard the whirr 
and sweep of those great pinions! 

He took no notice of us Avhatever as he pounced 
into the nest, but he appeared to need rest after 


62 


THE ROCK FROG 


being absent all night long. lie hid his head 
partly under his wing, but I think slept also with 
head erect and bright eyes closed. 

Soon we heard the sound of other wings and 
into the nest came the mate. Not as large a bird 
as the man eagle, but a fine, handsome creature, 
with a bit of a goose in one claw that would never 
quack again, and a good-sized fish in her beak. 

Well, the pair were at home but little of the 
time. The second night we climbed again, the 
green frog and I, to the rim of the nest, and took 
another look at the hopeless but splendid water 
view. 

^ Can you think of any way of escape ? ’ I 
asked. 

^ Only one,’ was the reply. 

^ And what is that, to jump and trust to reach- 
ing the shore ? ’ 

^ By no means ; I saw one frog try it, but 
he never reached any shore.’ 

‘ How then ? ’ 

H do not want to be mde, I have learned 
that rudeness and unkindness do not pay, but I 
want to keep the secret to myself. I might tell it, 
then a frog might try it, and never see the sun 
again.’ 

He did not speak ungently, but as if he wished 


THE REST OF BOOM -A - ROOM S STORY 63 


to keep silent as to his proposed plan of escape, 
and I thought it all right that he should, so said 
no more about it. But as I left him there, I shall 
always wonder if his plan was one that would serve 
him. 

The days went slowly by. We found food 
enough, as the eagles left many scraps about that 
we could pick up. Yet the nest was kept clean, 
and I sometimes felt that the eagles liked having 
creatures about that would pick up the bits. 

And I became almost fond of the green frog. 
I found that he lived on the banks of a deep pool, 
into which he was in the habit of diving, then set- 
tling himself in the green slime close to it. He 
doubtless was of much importance in the place 
where he belonged, for he told of frog laws he had 
helped to make, and I found he knew about every- 
thing a frog is supposed to know, and noticed 
everything that was worth noticing, which gen- 
erally makes either a frog or a hoy bright and 
knowing. 

I told him all about our marsh frogs, also 
about the Long Ponders and your wise judge, the 
Bock Frog. He paid attention to all I told him, and 
1 think will not forget it. 

And he was perfectly right in thinking that 
another feast was at hand. For bits of fruit were 


64 


THE ROCK FROG 


stored in the nest day before yesterday, and 
bunches of grasshoppers and various kinds of bugs. 
Then yesterday morning, several fishes were caught 
and left on the rocks below, and last night crabs 
and gulls were piled about as it grew dark. 

As it grew late, several strange eagles and a 
number of hawks came wheeling up to the nest. 
At first they did not seem to notice us, but the 
green frog croaked softly, just so I could hear him, 
that after a time we would he expected to dance 
on our hind legs, and wiggle about in a lively jig 
for the amusement of the company. 

After looking keenly about I began to notice 
the strange behavior of a large hawk that, instead 
of staying outside or circling around the nest, kept 
peering inside. He would blink first at me, then 
at the green frog, hut seemed to watch me the 
closest. Then the strangest thing happened ! 

“ You see, the poor little duckling, that I had 
pitied from the first, had a queer habit of cuddling 
close to me at night. This was very strange, for 
1 belong to a cold-blooded tribe that a little feath- 
ered creature would scarcely think of creeping up 
to, and a great frog sometimes snaps up a wee duck. 

But I suppose loneliness or homesickness 
makes us all do unusual things, and I somehow 
liked the feeling of that soft little thing that must 


THE BEST OF BOOM- A- ROOM' S STORY 65 


have been snatched from its downy mother and 
the rest of the brood. 

All at once, I felt sure that that hawk was 
going to swoop down and catch me up. And on the 
instant I grabbed the little duck that was hunched 
up close beside me., clutching him tightly in the 
webbed toes of a hind leg. Sure enough ! Before 
I could bid the green frog good-by, or even think of 
it, the hawk made a dive and snatched at me, the 
duckling dangling down. I could hear its little 
legs softly click and clatter as they crossed and re- 
crossed in the air, and we were off and away, 
whither hound I had not the least idea. 

But even in the claws of the hawk I saw a barn- 
yard as we sped along, and an old duck nestling 
with a brood partly under her wing, and partly 
huddled at her side. Opening wide my webbed 
foot, down dropped the duckling, and I heard a 
glad quack in the distance. So whether it was 
baby duck’s own mother or not, no matter, it was 
sure of being mothered by one of its own kind, and 
its danger and homesickness were all over and done 
with. What joy ! 

One thing I noticed as we bore onward. The 
hawk had an unusual way of flying as if he limped, 
and went slightly sideways in his flight. 

The next thing I knew, I was in another nest 


66 


THE ROCK FROG 


in a pine grove, where the trees were so thick and 
so high, that had I been in the middle of a tree, I 
could have seen nothing but branches, boughs, and 
green leaves. But the hawk’s nest was far aloft 
in a tall tree that had no leaves, but only bare 
branches at the top. 

Such a peculiar nest ! ^^o moss, no grasses, 

no lining at all in the hollow. I was surprised to 
see how this troubled me, for, tough as the body 
of a frog looks and really is, we yet are used to 
soft mud, or the spongy dampness of boggy places, 
and a bare bed of braided sticks is anything but 
soft or spongy. 

But this was last night, and now let me tell 
you how much a hawk knows. I think he went 
back to the eagle’s feast, as it is not likely that 
the eagle saAV him bear me away. It was done 
slyly and quickly. Now, had he left me in that 
shallow nest, I could easily have made my way 
to the ground, and hopped and hopped until my 
home was reached. In some way I could have 
found it. 

But my lord the hawk had no notion of let- 
ting me get away. So he tucked my toes in 
between the sticks, and wove twigs in a close net- 
work all around me, until I was in a complete 
cage, and could not possibly have worked my way 


THE REST OF BOO^f - A - ROOM'S STORY 67 


out. lie left a few roots and dried berries near 
me, and went his way. I did not see him again 
until this noon. Of course, I was dreadfully 
afraid of him, but, strange as it is, we do get 
used, in a way, even to being scared nearly out of 
our senses, and, as the hawk did not act as if 
he meant to harm me, I began to wonder at his 
care, and to ask myself what he meant to do. 

I find that eagles and hawks are chiefiy crea- 
tures of the darkness, for their nests are usually 
empty at night, except as they meet to feast or 
hold a midnight revel. And yet, if it is a tender, 
tiny chicken, a plump bahy goose, or a little 
duckling they have a mind to dine upon, they 
know enough to go in the daytime for that kind of 
a treat, and not when all such juicy atoms are safe 
beneath a mother’s wing. 

Late this evening the hawk came home, un- 
bound me, took me in his claws, and, after a long 
flight in his lame, uncertain way, dumped me on 
this rock. What a bird of honor is he ! I know 
now that an injured wing, probably not yet quite 
sound, caused his imperfect, zigzag flight. And 
I can see that the reason he did not bring me back 
last night was because he wanted to return to the 
eagle’s nest, and knew that he could not fly so 
far at one time. 


68 


THE ROCK FROG 


So now here I am, brought back by a grateful, 
faithful bird, who has acted like a prince in carry- 
ing out a promise made in a time of trouble. And 
I promise in turn that the strange, hard lesson 
I have learned shall last me as long as I live. 

Three good things I am sure will come of 
what happened to me. First, I shall not let my 
boom of a voice rise in temper again so far above 
all other sounds that a great air giant can flap 
its wings directly over my head and I not hear it. 
Second, I have discovered that where Ave proudly 
and foolishly set our wills to getting something 
that we are determined to have, we may get it, but 
at a cost that Avould make us thankful to do with- 
out it, rather than pay such a price. 

I Avas bound that the Long Pond frogs should 
keep still and listen to my voice. And listen you 
had to for a little Avhile, Avhether you Avould or 
no. I^OAV you haA^e listened again Avith kind atten- 
tion. But think of the frights I haA^e had, and 
the dangers I have faced, since first I tried to make 
you hear my booming voice ! 

The third good thing that I feel must come 
of my capture and my rescue is this: The Long 
Pond frogs and the marsh frogs must be at peace 
Avith each other forevermore after this. 

ISToav I Avould go to my friends. But I invite 


THE REST OF BOOM - A - ROOM' S STORY 69 


all of you who can to come over to our marsh 
to-morrow night, when I think there will be a 
kind of jubilee, and the marsh frogs will want to 
speak their thanks to the frogs of Long Pond for 
their great kindness to their king. I am only 
very, very sorry that your good and wise judge, 
the Rock Prog, cannot come with yon. But he 
will have the gratitude and admiration of every 
frog at the marsh.’^ 


CTTAPTER YII. 


REJOICING AT THE MARSH 

T he reiHainder of the night was spent in 
croakings over Booni-a-Eooin’s story. Then 
it was agreed that Father Hind Legs and a goodly 
number of Long Pond frogs should go over to 
the Marsh the next night, and join in the rejoicings 
over the return of their king. 

And a merry time they had of it. The marsh 
frogs heard tliem coming, and came forth to meet 
tliem. Then over to a rich bog they hopped, where 
they met frogs of other tribesj who had been 
politely invited to join in the night’s revel. 

Among otliers Avere a few large green frogs, 
from a deep pool region, that, hearing Avhat had 
happened to the marsh king, came to see if he 
could tell anything about one of their leaders that 
an eagle had borne aAvay. It Avas during a toAAUi 
meeting of Deep Pool frogs, AAdien this leader, 

70 


REJOICING AT THE MARSH 


n 


who was a fine speaker, had been telling of a- new 
law he thonght should be made, that the air giant 
came. One of them said: 

We green frogs used often to go in bimches 
to wade in a clear pond some little distance from 
onr own pool and its slimy banks. But every 
time we went there^ were naughty boys around, 
Avho threw stones at ns and tried to catch iis by 
the legs. 

Onr leader was telling of a sly plan he had 
for paying those two-legged creatures for plaguing 
and tormenting ns as they did. And that was to 
nibble their toes when they went in bathing. For 
the boy-creatnres were very fond of plunging into 
the pond and having a cool bath. And it would 
make them squirm well, and sqneal well, too, to 
feel a pricking nip at their toes or heels, as they 
were having a nice little swim. 

So pleased were the green frogs at this idea 
that we all boonted ont onr thanks to the leader for 
speaking of it, when, right in the midst of onr 
lond cries of gratitude, the dreadful shadow low- 
ered, and all escaped except the leader who was 
trying to help ns. Is it not strange that the same 
eagle who snapped np the marsh king shonld 
have grabbed away onr leader, who was to ns such 
a nsefnl fellow? True, he was planning ven- 


72 


THE ROCK FROG 


geance on the boy-creatures, but then, it was de- 
served.” 

At that, one of the green frogs said be thought 
it was a funny old world. And the rest of the 
green frogs made a loud cry of the words : 

^^Funny-old-world! Funny-old-world! Funny- 
old-world ! ” 

Then the Long Pond frogs, the Marshers, and 
their other guests chimed in, and for a time the 
meadows all around rang with the long-drawn 
croak : 

^^Funny-old-world! Funny-old-world! Funny- 
old-world ! ” 

But Father Hind Legs, who was old and wise, 
said that they must, after all, remember that the 
air giant carried out the law of its nature just 
as truly in catching up a frog when it could as 
the frog did in snapping at flies or hugs. And he 
bade the green frogs take courage, for, if Boom-a- 
Room had escaped so finely, what might not hap- 
pen to help their leader ? And had he not spoken 
of a plan by which he hoped to get free ? Oh, there 
was much to hope for and cause them to take 
courage. 

Then they all felt better as the green frogs 
cheered up, and the fun began. Over skipped 
the frogs to some deep puddles, where they pitched 



‘‘ SUCH A PADDLING AND SPORTING HAD NEVKR BEEN 

SEEN BEFORE.” 




REJOICING AT THE MARSH 


73 


head first into the water, tlieir hind legs showing 
long and straight as they made great leaps. Some 
old daddy frogs, too stiff in the joints for such 
mighty springs, crooned away on the stones by the 
puddle, while baby frogs climbed on their backs 
and sat down, otliers stood on their shoulders and 
peeped with little goggly eyes at the capers of 
their parents, their uncles, their cousins, and their 
aunts. 

Such a paddling and a sporting and a fiddling 
the little froglings had never seen or heard be- 
fore, while all the air was filled with mixed 
cries of: 

Brek-ek-ex-co-ax, co-ax ! Brek-ek-ex-co-ax, 
co-ax! Jug-a-roon-roon-roon ! Jug-a-roon-roon- 
roon ! Pat-go-drook-drook-drook ! Pat-go-drook- 
drook-drook I Creek-come-cr eel-creel-creel ! Creek- 
conie-creel-creel-creel ! Krum-f ump 1 Krum-f ump ! 
Krum-fump ! ’’ 

There were plenty of fresh young things to eat. 
Crisp grasshoppers that, hearing the noise, went 
out in big companies, slugs, bugs, and the swift 
little minnows that, in the small streams, would 
swim right into their mouths. 

There was also in the company a squad of tree- 
frogs, quite like small foreigners in the midst of 
the others. They were smaller than the common 


74 


THE ROCK FROG 


ground frogs, and brighter in color. They moved 
more quickly, and their little fingers and toes were 
much flatter than those of either the Long Ponders, 
the Marshers, or the green frogs. Their skin was 
also smoother along the hack, where it was a kind 
of olive green with brown blotches, and under- 
neath they were of a whitish hue. 

The tree frogs did not croak, hut made a kind 
of chirp, something like a cricket. They live like 
other frogs on the hanks or edges of ponds or pools, 
and are quite tame. Sometimes people have fed 
and made tiny pets of them. They could make a 
jump that would make other frogs stare, it was 
such a jump. 

If any traveller passed the marshy meadow that 
night, he surely must have wondered what was 
up with the frogs. But the merry jingle went on 
until the night had nearly worn away. One could 
almost have seen the dance going on, so jolly and 
so chippy were the sounds. 

At last, when it was nearly time for the sun to 
come creeping up, sending a faint glow along the 
eastern sky, Boom-a-Boom, the marsh king, called 
a council of the wisest frogs in the company, as he 
had something of great importance he wished to 
say. And when, under the damp shadows of some 
long meadow-grass, he told what was on his mind. 


REJOICING AT THE MARSH 


75 


the frogs put on their thinking-caps and tried to 
make out what could be done. 

What the marsh king had to say was, that he 
wished some bright frog or other could think of 
a plan by which Judge Ker-Chunk, the Eock 
Erog, could be set free. 

Think of it ! ’’ he exclaimed. Here we have 
been rejoicing and celebrating the whole night 
through, and he, whom we all so much respect and 
would delight to have in our midst, is shut away 
from all these pleasures, and has been for years. 
Cannot something he done ? ’’ 

There was silence all around after the marsh 
king had spoken, until Father Hind Legs replied: 

Many times, O Boom-a-Eoom, has this thing 
been talked over at Long Pond, but on no plan 
have we been able to decide that would give our 
good judge his liberty. Experiments might only 
hann him. It is a long time since, as a child frog, 
he was thrust into the rock merely to be kept 
there for a little while. Better far to keep him 
there as our friend and judge than to risk his 
precious life in wild schemes for his release.’’ 

But if he should be sick ? ” asked a marsh 
frog. What could you do then ? ” 

I do not know,” replied Father Hind Legs, 
with simple wisdom. The Eock Frog declares 


76 


THE BOCK FROG 


that his great safety in his rocky shelter makes 
up for much that he misses in various ways. But 
a frog cannot look a day ahead. They say that 
men cannot, either. Yet some One takes care of 
us all. And, if our Rock Frog should fall ill, that 
great One would surely look after him, and, it 
might be, would show us how we could help him.’’ 

Then our council is worth nothing,” said the 
marsh king. 

Oh, yes, it is worth much,” replied Father 
Hind Legs. We shall tell the Rock Frog how 
kindly he was remembered, and of your desire to 
help him. Kind wishes are worth very, very 
much, and I am sure your words will please our 
judge greatly. We all thank you for them, know- 
ing how much they will cheer him.” 

And they really did. For after several lively 
young frogs had told Judge Ker-Chunk of the 
drumming, the fiddling, the frolicking, and rejoic- 
ing, Father Hind Legs, in a soft croak, told how 
anxious the marsh king and the council of wise 
frogs had been to set him free. 

Yes, the Rock Frog was truly pleased. But 
he swallowed hard, and his breast bulged out, as 
he sighed: 

Ah, but liberty is sweet ! ” 

Poor Judge Ker-Chunk,” sighed Father Hind 


REJOICING AT THE MARSH 


77 


Legs, as lie hopped toward the pond, he still 
finds it hard to be a prisoner. So would any one 
of ns. Would that some kind, great One would 
set him free O’ 


CHAPTER VIII. 


WHAT THE FROGS TAUGHT THE FARMER 

T a little distance from Long Pond, was a 



fine large farm where water from the pond 
was carried in pipes to the barn and the family 
mansion. 

Farmer Harris was a middle-aged man who 
should have known some things that he never 
stopped to think of. So he forgot that all the 
creatures in the world are meant to be of use, 
and he would storm at harmless little fliers and 
hoppers in a way not at all nice or noble, in a 
great, grown-np man.” 

As he came np from a wide meadow one even- 
ing, he noticed that the frogs were having a gay 
time skipping around the pond, and calling to their 
fellows to come and skip across the meadow too. 

I won’t have these noisy fellows, piping, chew- 
ing, swallowing, and hollering all about the farnij” 


78 


}VHAT THE FROGS TAUGHT 


79 


he said, I’ll find some way of ridding the place, 
both of noisy frogs and good-for-nothing toads.” 

F armer Harris went grumbling up to the house, 
and pretty soon a company of toads came leaping 
over to the pond, making frightened complaint 
of what they had heard the farmer say. 

Toads, you know, look like frogs, yet in many 
respects they are unlike them. They are like 
frogs in being children of the night,” liking 
best to hop and leap about under cover of the 
darkness. - 

Their hind legs are shorter than those of the 
frog, so they have to take shorter leaps. They 
do not live long, either, as they are thought to 
live only about forty years, which, however, is 
a long, long life for so small a creature. 

Like the frog, they eat only what is alive until 
being snapped at and devoured at once. Their 
eyes are bright as jewels, and they have little 
glands behind their heads from which they can 
send out a kind of poisonous fluid. When fright- 
ened they keep perfectly still except for swallow- 
ing, swallowing, and swallowing, as if a little 
stream was constantly running down their throats. 

If they should happen to spurt a jet of that 
unwholesome fluid into any one’s eyes, it would 
make them smart miserably. They have no teeth 


80 


THE ROCK FROG 


like frogs, but like the frogs do not drink, simply 
absorbing or drawing in moisture through the 
skin. 

A toad is a funny creature. When it sees a 
nice plump fly or insect fluttering through the air, 
it will keep as still as though it had no life, its eyes 
will seem flxed on nothing and will not move. 
Then, just as Buzz-buzz comes along, out darts 
toady’s tongue like a flash, and Buzz-buzz is seen 
no more. 

Unlike frogs, toads live on land, except early in 
the spring, when they sometimes take to the water. 
But like frogs, when cold weather comes, they 
crec]) into holes, under stumps or stones, and sleep 
the long winter through. 

ITow the frogs and the toads live for months 
without food is a mystery, but they are cared for, 
as is everything in ^^^ature, and Uature is full of 
strange, amusing, and mysterious things. 

Judge Ker-Chunk was squatting comfortably 
before his door, when he saw a company of small, 
dark objects coming toward the rock, and he knew 
at a glance that it was made up of frogs and toads. 
Father Hind Legs was in the procession, but it 
was headed by a great bullfrog who, like Boom-a- 
Tvoom, got his name from his deep and rolling 


WHAT THE FROGS TAUGHT 


81 


voice, which at times would make one think of the 
lowing of an angry ox. 

He was a handsome fellow, that is for a frog, 
with good long fingers at the end of his forelegs 
for sticking in the mud, and such wide, wehhy toes 
at the end of his hind legs that they were as good 
as paddles in swimming. The weh-toes of a frog 
serve the same purpose in swimming as do the fins 
and web-tail of a fish. 

‘^Patty-go-Frump’’ was a reddish-brown, spotted 
with black, with a yellow line down the middle of 
his hack. He would sit for hours baking in the 
sun, then plunge into the cool waters of the pond 
* and neither cough nor sneeze. 

Prom the quick, nervous hops of the frogs, 
and the steady plumping along of the more heavy- 
bodied toads, the Pock Frog knew that something 
had gone wrong, and imagined that they were 
coming to him for advice. 

He was not mistaken. In froggie language 
Patty-go-Frump began : . 

Oh, our good Judge Ker-Chunk, such trouble 
as we are in ! The farmer who lives near the 
Long Pond is going to drive us all away from our 
homes. For he says we are pesters and a plague. 
He allows his boys to throw stones at us, and has 
a fearful creature called a ■ dog ’ that makes a 


82 


THE noCK FROG 


great barking cry ten times lender than our musi- 
cal croaks and songs. This he will let rush at us, 
scaring us most dreadfully. 

And oh, dear judge, such an alarming story 
as the toads have to tell ! What can we do ? What 
can we do ? ’’ 

As Patty-go-Frump ceased speaking, a monster 
toad began in a low-pitched voice : 

Will the kind and knowing Pock Frog listen 
to the sad plaint of the toads? We live at the 
farm near Long Pond, and the farmer who 
threatens to drive away the frogs, means to drive 
or kill olT the toads also. His boys and his bark- 
ing creature chase us into holes and under stumps, 
or stone or chew us up if we do not get away. 

And he has sprinkled a strange white powder 
over the strawberry-beds, the pea-vines, the pota- 
toes, and in fact all through the garden, that has 
made many of us very ill indeed. We come with 
the frogs to ask. What can we do ? What can we 
do?’’ 

Judge Ker-Chunk winked and blinked in 
silence a few moments, then he sat upright, 
swallowed and swelled, and moved the lower lids 
of his tiny eyes as a frog can do when troubled or 
excited. At length he spoke : 

My children, I will tell what will be the best 


WHAT THE FROGS TAUGHT 


83 


thing for you aU. It will take patience and seem 
a hard thing to do. But follow my counsel, and I 
think you will find that the farmer-man will be 
glad enough to treat you all well, after my plan 
has been tried. 

Instead of letting him drive you away, go you 
every one, without sign or sound, and for the space 
of four weeks do not go near either pond or garden. 
You frogs can live very comfortably in the bog 
about a quarter of a mile away. The toads can 
hop into the woods and there abide for four weeks. 

It is not so very long to leave your homes, and 
it will be far better to live in peace during the rest 
of the summer and through the warm, dewy weeks 
of autumn, than to be all the time in dread of what 
the mistaken farmer, his boys, his dog, and his 
harmful powders may do.’’ 

It will indeed be strange and hard for us to 
move out entirely,” drummed Patty-go-Frump, 
but your advice shall be followed.” 

Will it not be hard for me ? ” asked the Pock 
Frog in an undertone croak. 

Then the frogs and the toads saw how kind and 
unselfish Judge Ker-Chunk had been in setting 
aside his own comfort, and giving the best advice 
of which he could think. For although one or two 
frogs could hop over occasionally to see that the 


84 


THE ROCK FROG 


judge was all right, yet it was going to be very 
lonely for him, having them away for so long a 
time, and his advice was brave as well as wise. 
And although neither frogs nor toads knew what it 
meant, they yet felt safe in trusting him, and doing 
as he said. 

And indeed he did miss them, did the Rock 
Frog! 'No tuneful fiddlings by the pond, no jigs 
or dancing by moonlight, no welcome leapings to 
the rock to tell the news. Ro frog-races as it grew 
dark, no puffy, friendly toads toddling along to 
see the fun, and take a turn in the round dances. 

But at the end of a lonely fortnight, the Rock 
Frog, looking from his little door, saw Farmer 
Harris walking along with a very sober face. 

Ker-chunk! Ker-chunk! ’’ muttered the judge, 
my plan is working 1 ’’ 

At the end of another week, the farmer passed 
the rock again, and this time with a troubled, 
anxious air. He appeared to be looking for some- 
thing in the grass, and in boggy places, that he did 
not find. Two round little eyes watched him. 

Ker-chunk ! Ker-chunk ! ’’ chuckled the Rock 
Frog with a grin that sent a slit way across 
bis face, how that plan of mine does work 1 ’’ 
The night before the fourth week would be up. 
Judge Ker-chunk saw Farmer Harris walking 


WHAT THE FROGS TAUGHT 


85 


slowly along, head down, hands clasped behind 
him, his entire appearance downcast and dejected, 
but hark! he is talking to himself, and the Kock 
Frog strains his mites of ears to catch his words: 

Oh, what a fool was I, to talk of such a thing 
as driving away the frogs and the toads ! Did they 
hear me, and go of their own accord to teach me 
a serious, much-needed lesson ? But alas, I knew 
so little ! 

When I saw that wise man to-day, and told 
him our pond water was scarcely fit to drink, that 
all kinds of bugs and insects were sailing happily 
on the surface, he asked, ^ Have you no frogs 
there ? ’ 

And when I told the old landscape-gardener 
that tiny creeping things and greedy crawling 
things were eating up my vines and vegetables, 
he asked, ^ Have you no toads about ? ’ 

Then I remembered how silent it had grown 
by the pond at night, and that no brown hoppers 
had crossed my path for several days, and I began 
looking in earnest and in anxiety for the useful 
frogs and toads. 

Ah, me ! I did not know that the frogs ate 
up, and in other ways did away with what was 
impure about the water, and that the toads took 
care of the creepers and the crawlers that destroyed 


86 


THE ROCK FROG 


my vines and vegetable plants. Alack ! if only the 
frogs and the toads would come back to pond and 
garden, I would be their friend and protector, I 
would indeed ! ’’ 

Farmer Harris strode away, head still down and 
hands clasped behind his back, while Judge Ker- 
Chunk danced a jig that banged his knotty sides 
against the rough wall of his chamber, and it 
looked as though his mouth might be going to 
swallow his head, so fearful was the stretch of it. 

At night, when a frog and a toad came to in- 
quire for his health, the Hock Frog told them they 
might bid the different tribes return to their homes, 
and neither the farmer nor anything belonging 
to him would do them any harm. 

When midnight was chiming, back they came, 
great leaping, hopping squads of jubilant, home- 
returning wanderers. And when Judge Ker- 
Chunk made them understand what Farmer 
Harris had said, the frogs had to get on a little 
extra swell at the thought of what useful creatures 
they were, and the toads puffed with importance at 
knowing the farmer could not get along without 
them and prosper. 

Before morning, the Long Pond sent out a 
chorus making it sound as if fairly alive, and the 
vines along the ground and the potato-plants 


WHAT THE FROGS TAUGHT 


87 


appeared as if alive also with hosts of active toads 
hopping in every direction. 

Daylight had not dawned when Parmer Harris 
stood in the meadow between pond and garden 
again talking to himself: 

Thank the Lord the frogs have come hack, and 
the toads are here too ! I should think every frog 
was trying to split his throat with the tooting it 
is keeping up. And the toads, I verily believe, are 
trying to trip me up, dancing under my feet at 
nearly every step. 

But the racket of the frogs is music in my 
ears, and the toads are welcome to trip me if they 
can.’’ 

Down by the pond Father Hind Legs said to 
Patty-go-Frump : 

What a wise judge is our Bock Frog ! ” 

And Patty-go-Frump said to Father Hind 
Legs, What a knowing Bock Frog is our Judge 
Ker-Chunk ! ” 


CHAPTEK IX. 


THE GKEEH FEOG 

T EUE enough. The frogs of Long Pond and 
the toads of the garden had no more trouble 
from boys, dog, or mysterious powders. There 
were all-night croakings, jigs, and spinnings about 
in meadow and bog. 

More and more also was Judge Ker-Chunk 
looked up to and trusted. Visiting frogs went 
always to see him, and there was never lack of 
callers, either by day or by night. 

Yet every creature craves that for which his 
nature cries out, and, while the Pock Erog length- 
ened out and looked full grown in most respects, 
he yet was thin, lacking plumpness, and the round- 
ing of body natural to a healthy frog. 

It troubled the Long Ponders, hut there was 
nothing to do, and the sensible judge only smiled 
widely when one and another of his friends would 
inutter and sputter at his shut-up condition. 


THE GREEN FROG 


89 


One sweet summer night, as companies of frogs 
squatted on and about the rock, Judge Ker-Chimk 
all at once leaned forward, saying he heard an 
echo against his cabin walls, and he thought some 
marsh frogs were on the way over. 

Yes, the next moment they all heard the jog-trot 
and the deep booming of the coming visitors, the 
drnmlike voice of Booin-a-Room rising above the 
rest. 

As they reached the rock they were greeted with 
politeness, and Booni-a-Room first of all proceeded 
to introduce a fine great fellow in a green coat, 
with a baggy throat and active-looking limbs. 
Sitting before the little door of the rock, he said: 

I have brought with me. Judge Ker-Chnnk, 
the green frog, who, you will remember, was a 
prisoner with me in the eagle’s nest. He waited 
a tiresome number of days before seeing a chance 
to try the plan of escape he then had in mind. 

I shall let my friend tell his own story to 
you all, as he was anxious to see the frog judge 
who was the means of my getting away, also my 
many friends at Long Pond.” 

The green frog was given a place close be- 
side Judge Ker-Chunk’s door, where he began to 
speak : 

There is only one reason why I cannot entirely 


90 


THE ROCK FROG 


enjoy telling the story of how I got hack my free- 
dom. I cannot forget that, while your beloved 
judge is by no means surrounded by the perils 
that lately were all about me, he yet is to a great 
degree a prisoner, and it would be unkind to re- 
joice too freely in his presence over what is denied 
him. 

Your judge has been told that it was while 
speaking earnestly about a new law, before our 
Deep Pool frogs, that I was swooped doAvn upon, 
and borne away. The next thing I knew, I was 
in the eagle’s nest. 

At first, all I did was to keep still and tremble. 
Then, when I found that the air giant and his 
mate liked to see me hop about, I tried to leap 
here and there as gracefully as I could, for I 
wanted to amuse them so much that they would 
not swallow me in a hurry. 

You may have heard that there was a long, 
showy lizard in the nest, and a wee, cunning duck- 
ling. And how ducky escaped in the claws of the 
marsh king you must also know. 

Before speaking of my own escape, let me 
tell how the lizard got away. One night, the 
eagle’s mate brought home a mouse alive. It was 
a sprightly little customer, that would not have 
stayed in the nest unwatched for a moment, had it 


THE GBEEN FROG 


91 


not been for the way in which Madam Eagle 
fastened it down by the tail. 

She made a twine of fine grasses, much like 
the net of twigs that, you will remember, kept the 
lizard in its tight little bed. Ah, she showed great 
skill, fastening an end of the twine into one side 
of the nest, and, with the other end, pinning 
mousie down so she could stand up or lie down, but 
could not reach around and nibble the tightly 
woven cord. The hawk knew the same trick. 

I noticed that the lizard and the mouse gTew 
friendly, and could see that they meant to help 
each other if in any way they possibly could. 
And I could scarcely believe that little creatures 
of the field had sense or mind enough to think out 
things as they will, had I not seen proof of it with 
my own eyes. 

Madam Eagle certainly meant to have her 
unwilling visitors too far away to give one another 
any help whatever. But one bright night, when 
both the eagle and his mate had soared away and, 
we knew, would not return for hours, the mouse 
began jumping, tugging, and straining at that 
braided chain, never giving itself a moment’s rest. 

I, meantime, had tried both teeth and claws 
on network and twine, but, having no under teeth, 
I could not manage to bite or pull either apart. 


92 


THE ROCK FROG 


After a long time, Miss Mousie did succeed in 
stretching her chain a little, yet she could not 
turn around and nibble at it without twisting her 
poor little tail more than she could bear. Ah ! 
but she saw that, with a bit more of stretching, 
she could reach an end of the network that held 
the lizard a captive. 

To work she went again, and,* after much 
hard etfort, lo ! she could reach the braided twigs. 
A few sharp bites with her pointed teeth, and out 
darted the lizard. Then, what did it do? In an 
instant it was at the top of the nest, and I won- 
dered if it could be so ungrateful as to flash away 
and leave poor mousie in the lurch. 

'No ; it soaked its body in a puddle that had 
settled in a hollow of the rim, then back it glided 
and sat on mousie’s tail. This it did several times, 
until the moisture so loosened the twine that a 
series of jumps enabled the mouse to nibble herself 
free. 

Then the proceedings were so funny that, for 
the moment, I forgot that I was a poor prisoner, 
forgot that I was not free and not soon likely to be, 
and laughed so hard that I was surprised at the 
sound of my own rollicking croak. 

I had climbed quickly to the rim of the nest, 
wanting to see the pair take their leave. The 




THE GREEN FROG 


93 


lizard and the mouse reached the rim just as I 
did. Then the lizard paused a moment, and, like 
a flash, mousie mounted to its back, curled her 
nimble legs against its sides, and so, with mousie 
riding ^ pick-a-back,’ straight down went the lizard, 
striking on one of the rocks far below. Then it 
did not move, but off hopped mousie, and I knew 
that she was safe. It was several hours before the 
handsome lizard moved slowly out of sight. I 
think the hard blow stunned it, and I am afraid it 
was badly injured. 

I was now the only creature left in the nest, 
and my fears increased. For might not the eagle 
think I had assisted the others in escaping, and 
take vengeance on me ? If only my plan could be 
tried ! 

I was crouching sad and lonely, thinking of 
my lovely home and merry companions by the 
deep pool, when, aha ! a sound reached my ears 
that sent me to the top of the nest in a trice. Yes, 
there was what I had longed to see. A sail! I 
had hoped a boat might pass under the cliff, and 
at the side, where the rocks beneath did not project 
or come out, and that, by making a mighty leap, 
I might scramble on board, then hide before 
any one would know what had fallen. 

On, on^ came the craft, a small fishing-vesseb 


94 


THE ROCK FROG 


I swallowed hard and fast. For was not here the 
only means of escape I had been able to think of ? 
Two or three times it appeared as if about to tnrn 
aside, then, in the stream of moonlight, I rejoiced 
to see it drawing nearer. Up it came until nearly 
under the clilf, then, oh, glory ! it was slowly 
drifting by. Now or never I must make a leap 
for life ! There ! Down I came with a mighty 
bounce, right atop of a man’s hat ! 

Up jumped the man, caught off his hat, and, 
using strange, strong words I did not know the 
meaning of, began looking around. 

But quicker than a wink I had taken another 
leap, and scuttled under a coil of rope. 

‘ It was a rock ! ’ cried the man. ^ A chunk 
of rock fell right on to my head. Lucky I had 
my hat on.’ 

‘ I thought it was a lump of mud,’ said an- 
other. 

^ Well, rock or mud, what has become of the 
creature ? ’ laughed the man. 

^ I think it bounced and went overboard,’ said 
a third. 

And so they gave it up, and did no more 
guessing, and I remained snugly and safely hidden 
away until we reached the land, when I hopped 
ashore easily enough. 


THE GREEN FROG 


95 


]^ow, that was the plan I had in mind but 
did not wish to speak of when' the marsh king was 
my companion in the nest: To plunge down on to 
a passing vessel, then stow myself away. But, had 
he been with me when the vessel came, I should 
surely have invited him to join me in the risk. ‘ 

I next set about the pleasant task of finding 
my own deep pool. It took several nights. I was 
far, far away, but my instinct guided me, and I 
was on the right road toward home, when I ac- 
cepted an invitation from a friendly frog to attend 
the birthday-party, in a fine bog, of an old frog 
who was about to celebrate his ninetieth birth- 
day. 

To this party had been invited frogs from 
different places and of different tribes, and what 
was my joy to see among the guests a green frog 
from my own dear Deep Pool district. 

My troubles were over. Very happily we 
journeyed homeward when the merry gathering 
was over. And a right grand jubilee we had on 
the wanderer’s return. Much such a one as the 
marsh frogs enjoyed when their king came back. 

How I must see your beautiful pond, fiddle 
and sing with the Long Pond frogs, then take leave 
of them and the marsh frogs, and journey hack to 
home, sweet home. 


96 


THE ROCK FROG 


“ Good-by, Judge Ker-Chunk, and may you live 
long to enjoy the affection of your own Long 
Ponders, as well as the high esteem of many other 
of our tribes.” 


CHAPTEE X. 


THE GEEAT STOEM 

' I ' HE smiling, sunny summer was gliding 
softly away. By and by would come the 
time for the leaves to fall, the pond to grow dark 
and cold, the days to grow short, the nights chilly 
and long. 

Then winter would come puffing along, freezing 
the waterj making hard lumps of the mud, driving 
southward the birds, and making bare the trees. 
Under cover would creep the froggies and the 
toads. Hot a cheerful, gleesome hopper would be 
seen, and yet they would be alive, and only waiting 
for another spring to come and wake them, to peep, 
hop, and croak as merrily as ever. 

Yet there were still to be bright, warm days 
before summer would be quite gone. Fruits were 
ripening every^vhere. Berries, blue and black, hung 
heavily on spicy bushes. Children shouted and 
played in the meadows. And all through the dewy 
97 


98 


THE ROCK FROG 


night the frogs kept up a merry-go-round of joyous, 
ringing sounds. 

There came one morning, during the last week 
of summer, when it was so hot that even the frogs 
were silent, while keeping part way in the pond. 
Scarlet and crimson flowers, ripe, gorgeous, and 
fragrant, flamed along the garden path, appear- 
ing to laden the air with heat and perfume. The 
watch-dog lay before his kennel, tongue out and 
panting hard. liens wandered about with mouths 
wide open, sure sign of great heat. 

Madam Puss left her favorite perch on the 
piazza, and lay sprawled on the grass under the 
shadow of a tree. Cows, finding a brook or a wet 
spot, stood, where they could, knee-deep in water. 
Birds twittered but softly, and did not fly far. 
Men went about under great umbrellas, hats off 
and used as fans, and with collars wilted almost 
out of sight. 

During the afternoon it grew very still. People 
went about slowly and cautiously, as if almost 
afraid of the great heat. Panners loosened their 
horses from the plow, and led them to the barn, 
showing mercy both to themselves and the poor 
beasts. 

It grew more still. The sky began to look dark, 
while a yellow light showed through the glooming 


THE GREAT STORM 


99 


of the clouds. Several Long Pond frogs went with 
sluggish leaps to the rock of Judge Ker-Chunk. 

We think there is going to he a storm/’ they 
piped. “ The farmer has put the cattle and hens 
in the barn, and carefully fastened back the shut- 
ters. He has tied up several tender trees and 
saplings, and put great tubs where they will catch 
the rain.” 

Then a few marsh frogs came hurrying along. 

It is going to rain,” they said, and we are 
trying to get back to the marsh before it begins.” 

At that. Judge Ker-Chunk said: 

My advice to all the frogs is to get close to 
the pond, to lie low, and keep huddled together. 
There will not be time to reach the marsh before 
the storm will he upon us. There is going to he 
a great wind, so great that frogs had better look 
out that they are not tossed about. I think, too, 
that hail will come down, the little sharp stones of 
frozen water that are harder than ice, slow to melt, 
and strong enough to break glass if they chance 
to strike it.” 

It was not long before there was a booming of 
thunder, and flashes of lightning streamed along 
the purple and coppery sky. 

Are you afraid ? ” asked one of the Long Pond 


L.ofC. 


100 


TUB ROCK FROG 


frogs, as they were about to leave Judge Ker- 
Cliunk alone. 

Afraid!’’ exclaimed the Rock Frog, with a 
slow smile. Afraid? Well, I think not. After 
all the storms I have seen, it would he strange 
enough if I should feel anything like fear. I am 
afraid of nothing. Remember, my children, that 
kind ISTature knows when her flowers are drooping 
for want of rain, that the grass is drying up, the 
streams are going dry, and the flelds, trees, insects, 
and all things in her vast kingdom are crying out 
for rain.” 

Long Pond has been so low,” piped a young 
frog, that we were afraid it might dry up en- 
tirely.” 

^^o fear of that,” said the Rock Frog. The 
springs which feed it are too deep and too high 
up on the hills for our pond to really fail us. But 
notice the refreshment and the freshening that will 
be over everything after the rain has come, the 
beautiful, welcome rain. 

FTever be afraid of anything in Nature. I 
cannot tell how it is, yet I feel sure that back 
of Nature is some Power that guides great Nature 
herself, and that knows what is best for man, birds, 
flowers, insects, and for the frogs as well. 

Now go. I smell the rain, the wind is rising. 


THE GREAT STORM 


101 


the thunder is growing louder. Make haste for 
the pond.’’ 

There was a scrambling and leaping for the 
shelter of the pond, with its deep grasses and 
muddy hollows. Birds were in their nests. The 
hum of insects had ceased. The dog was in his 
kennel. Puss was under the piazza. 

Then the storm broke. Bain beat down like the 
tramping of a host. The wind was like a mad, 
swift whirl, pushing all before it. Grass bent 
over and lay flattened with the drenching, drown- 
ing downpour. Bose leaves fell in showers, leav- 
ing the bushes shorn of their sweet blooms. Great 
trees swayed and swirled as if about to snap apart. 
Blinds rattled. Weak fences were blown down. 
Loose stones on the wall clattered to the ground. 
Then hail came pelting down, the hard, prickly 
hail. 

A wilful gosling, that would not obey its mother 
goose when she cried, Squawk ! Squawk ! Come 
under the shed ! Come under the shed ! ” ran 
squealing into the barn, and began looking for the 
pins and ‘needles the silly creature thought must 
be sticking in its little yellow drumsticks. 

Water rushed like a river down the road, and fell 
in heavy streams from housetop, barn, and shed. 
The wind roared like a giant. Pellets of hail 


102 


THE ROCK FROG 


clattered down. Lightning flashed and glared, 
while thunder crashed and boomed, and seemed 
as if bowling and growling under the earth. 

So violent a storm did not last long. After a 
time the rain began to fall less heavily. Wind 
still rocked the trees, but tender twigs no longer 
snapped and fell. The hail ceased. The darkness 
lifted, lightning flared in fainter flashes, the thun- 
der muttered from afar. 

Then the sun came struggling through the 
clouds. Rosebuds that had clung close to the 
stronger stems raised joyous heads of promise in 
the sweet and freshened air. The flaming scarlets 
and gold of the garden smiled with rosy drops on 
their beautiful cheeks, their radiant tints softened 
by the cooling rain-drops. 

Birds began glad twitterings overhead. The 
dog fluttered over the lawn in sheer delight at the 
fresh, new air that was all about, and the grand, 
wet paths over which he could parade. Puss 
stretched herself in cosy comfort on the piazza 
mat. Insects hummed with relief. Long Pond 
had swelled, and was full to the banks with spark- 
ling, rippling water. Toads hopped blithely along 
the garden, delighting in its soft, muddy ridges. 
The Long Pond frogs were jubilant, and skipped to 



“ THERE SAT THE ROCK FROG, SILENT, DIGNIFIED, AND 
GRAND, OUTSIDE THE ROCK.” 


•1 V 



THE GREAT STORM 


103 


and fro, their merry pipings sounding all along 
the region of the pond. 

Let us go and see our good judge,’’ they cried, 
and tell him how everything is rejoicing after 
the storm.” 

So over to the rock went a large company of 
frogs. Father Hind Legs and Patty-go-Frump 
leaping along at the fore. 

Up the rock scrambled several at once, and, at 
the top — what ! They stared as if their goggle^ 
eyes would burst out of their heads ! 

There sat the Rock Frog, silent, dignified, and 
grand, — outside the rock ! 

One by one they squatted in speechless, staring 
astonishment. There was never a peep, a croak, 
nor a boom, as the gathering crowd only stared 
and stared. The Rock Frog himself was the first 
to speak. 

My children,” he said, look at my door.” 

And, looking as their beloved judge had bade 
them, the frogs saw that a piece of rock had been 
split away, leaving a wide space where the little 
peep-hole of a door had been. 

How did it happen ? ” chorused the frogs. 

I cannot tell,” answered the Rock Frog, ex- 
cept to say that, amidst a rushing of rain, a tempest 
of wind, the rattling of hail, and the flashing of 


104 


THE ROCK FROG 


lightning, there came a crash, j^ot a frightful 
one. It did not alarm me. Then I saw a piece of 
loose rock lying outside my door, and wondered 
where it came from. All at once I noticed it was 
light above my head. I looked up. Part of the 
roof of my house was gone. Some kindness and 
goodness had opened wide my door. 

Out I came into the storm. Free! Joy! 
Joy! Joy! 

I let the rain-drops cover me over. I cared 
not for the hail. I did not notice the wind. The 
lightning showed me the wide sweep of the 
heavens, the thunder was my friend. 

When it cleared, I started to hop over and 
astonish you all. Then I found I could only take 
short leaps, and my legs ached when I tried to hop 
about. As I have never given a long leap since 
I was a little boy frog, it is not strange that my 
joints are stiff and refuse to work easily. 

Then I knew the. wonder would be quite as 
great if you came and found me sitting quietly 
outside the door that has shut me in so long. And, 
truly, I could scarcely stir for the glory of it all ! 
I seem to see the whole great world spread out 
before me. Every moment I am sending praise 
and thanks way back of nature. They must reach 
somewhere.” 


THE GREAT STORM 


105 


The news spread like a flash all along the banks 
of Long Pond, over to the marsh, and far on to the 
Deep Pool district, where dwelt the great green 
frogs. 

At the full of the moon there was a night of 
rejoicing such as had never before been seen around 
the banks of Long Pond. Every Long Ponder was 
on hand. The marsh frogs were present in great 
numbers. The green frogs came hopping over, 
their leader taking surprising leaps in his anxiety 
to tell Judge Ker-Chunk of his delight at knowing 
he was free. 

The revel was at full height from midnight on. 
Such a peeping and a piping, such a drumming 
and a Addling, such a booming and a dancing, hop- 
ping, leaping, and plunging! 

Farmer Harris said he believed the frogs had 
gone crazy in their delight that the pond was full 
again. The dog dared not show his face, for fear 
they might eat him up. The boys rolled over in 
their beds and giggled at the noise heard in their 
sleep, down by the pond. 

Through the few remaining days of summer, 
and during the fair, sweet days and nights of 
early and middle autumn. Judge Ker-Chunk re- 
joiced, grew plump, nimble, and strong, took flne 


106 


THE ROCK FROG 


journeys to marsh and Deep Pool banks, being wel- 
comed everywhere as chief of all the frogs. And 
through all he kept returning thanks. 

But, while he is still looked up to and trusted 
as the wise Judge Ker-Chunk, the tribes have never 
ceased to speak of him also as the Bock Prog.’’ 


THE END. 


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